The Londonderry sifter. (South Londonderry, Vt.) 1883-19??, 1887-03-24
BEN'S NOSTALGIA" !"
BY MRS. NJ. L. RAYNE.


and unwound numerous links of red
woolen comforter from his ample throat.
Then he sat down by the warm wood
fire and said to his wife:
"Scems like l had somethin' to tell
you, Sairy Ann, but l can't for the life
of me just remember it neow."
"Was it somebody got marriedW in
quired Mrs. Connover, who was busting
about setting the table for supper.
"No, didn't seem as twas. Lemme
think" and he pressed mcditative fore
finger on that portion Of his forehead
where he seemed to locate the faculty of
memory.
"Is anybody dead that you arc ac-
quaintcd with2"
mo, no, tain't cycthcr marryin' OF
dyin' as l kin see. Gurus how l do for
get things sometimes"
"Wc amt heard from Ben for quite
awhile" suggested Mrs. Conovcr.
"That's it." cried the farmer, jumping
to his feet as sprightly as a log. "Tain't
from Ben, leastwise it amt his hand
written, but it's letter. I've got it
wight here in my pocket"
"Do tell" said his wife, dropping the
dishes she was holding in promiscu-
Gus heap. 'If it amt from Ben, who is
it from2"
'1t's writ to you," said her husband
producing it at last.
Mrs. Conover reached up to the clock.
shelf and took down her Bible-readino
spectacles.
'It's strange hand to me-" she said
scanning it carefully, "must be some Of
Cicely's folks"
So she stepped to the door leading
above stairs and called at the top of hcl
voice:
"C-l-c-e-l-yl C-i-c-e-l-y"
'Here l am, mother" answered ;
sweet voice. "What is it2"
For every infection of her good
mothers voice was familiar to her, anc
this one bristlcd with exclamation
points.
'Here is a letter. in a strange hand
write. Do you know who it is from 2''
handing it to her.
"Why, it is addressed to you, mother
1t seems to me the easiest way to fine
out would be just to open it and reat
| it,"
"Well, then do" said her mother
"Tm so fidgcted thinking about Ben
off there alone that can't open it."
"This isn't anything about Ben,
said Cicely, deftly opening the envelop
after she had admired the smart collcg
style superscription. '1t's from som,
lawyer or fruit-tree agent, likely, OF
business"
'What would he write to you
mother for2" suggested Father Como
yer gruffly.
Cicely read it over to herself first, an
at once changed color.
at is about Ben, mother" she sad
the tears rushing into her eyes and he
voice, she is sick, and this is from th
doctor who is taking care of him. Oh
mother, don't cry, Ben needs you. Kce
upyour strength"
"What ails him2" asked his father i
an unsteady tone.
Cicely read the doctors letter.
He said that Ben was his patient, an
he was doing all he could for him, bu
his arcnts had better come, as it rt
quired more skill than hc-the physical
had to cure him. He ended by sayn
that the boy was suffering from a sever
attack of nostalgia.
"What in the world is that2 | nevt
heard of it before" exclaimed Mr.. Cor
mover.
what is it, Cicelyl' asked Mrs. Coz
mover. Cicely was graduate of ii
Normal school, and her parents cxpecte
her to know everything.
She shook her head.
at means that we must go to Be
just as soon as we can. If there ha
been any hop, the doctor would hay
,aid so."
She cried and worked at the san
Time. Ben, her only brother, was h,
dol. She had opposed his going ava
from first to last, but the father W,
wiser.
'If the boy amt c6ntentel here. /
him go to the city, and clerk it for
year or two. He's king of two hanc
anywhere" said the gruff old farmer.
And Ben had been i'll, and too prou
70 let them know,